5 Creepy Insects That Transfix Horror Movie Makers

By All That's Interesting | Edited By Savannah Cox
Published April 19, 2014
Updated November 20, 2019

Creepy Insects: Praying Mantis

The praying mantis was also given Brobdingnagian treatment for a 1957 movie called “The Deadly Mantis.” Praying mantises have a lot of characteristics that lend them to being categorized as a creepy insect: cannibalistic tendencies; a strange, triangular head with alien-like eyes; and prickly forelegs that can quickly snatch prey—or even a human finger. Large species of carnivorous mantises have been known to prey on small scorpions, lizards, frogs, birds, snakes, fish and even rodents, but most of them dine on smaller insects.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBos7oKAn_w

Truly a femme fatale, the female mantis devours the male once he has finished the mating ritual. When born from an egg sac, tiny mantises, called nymphs, will eat their siblings when they get hungry enough.

author
All That's Interesting
author
All That's Interesting
Established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together a dedicated staff of digital publishing veterans and subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science. From the lesser-known byways of human history to the uncharted corners of the world, we seek out stories that bring our past, present, and future to life. Privately-owned since its founding, All That's Interesting maintains a commitment to unbiased reporting while taking great care in fact-checking and research to ensure that we meet the highest standards of accuracy.
editor
Savannah Cox
editor
Savannah Cox
Savannah Cox holds a Master's in International Affairs from The New School as well as a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and now serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Sheffield. Her work as a writer has also appeared on DNAinfo.
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